Chapter Twenty-Five: Lab Work
I looked up in awe at the sheer size of the laboratory. Computers and screens covered the walls and the tables and desks that littered the warehouse-sized space. "Amazing…"
"Yeah," came a voice from beside me. I looked over to Kyou, whose wide eyes and open mouth probably matched my expression. "You can tell they do big things here."
"I've never seen so many computers," Fujibayashi breathed, clearly awestruck.
"Tomoya-kun!" Kotomi, wearing her lab coat, hurried up to me and threw herself into my chest, her cheek finding its usual resting place. Kyou cleared her throat, apparently reminding Kotomi that I wasn't the only one there. "Oh Kyou-chan, Ryou-chan! Welcome! Thank you for accepting my invitation!" she greeted, bowing to each in turn.
"No problem," Kyou replied before looking around the room. "This is… amazing."
She looked around before giggling as she looked back to me. "I had not thought about that; I suppose I am used to it by now, but I do remember being impressed when I first arrived."
'So what's this?" Kyou asked as she examined a microscope-looking device.
"That is part of…wait, let me show you something." She took my hand, interlocking her fingers with mine, and led us down several hallways. She must have been pretty excited because she was walking a lot faster than usual.
Finally, she led us through a set of double doors into a room easily the size of a warehouse. A gigantic machine dominated the center of the room.
"That thing is huge!" I couldn't help but be impressed.
"It is!" Kotomi face positively glowed as she looked back at me as she dragged me toward the machine. "This is our newest project, based on Mommy's and Daddy's research!"
Her enthusiasm was contagious, and I found myself looking forward to finding out what it did. "Something having to do with 'string theory', right?"
"Right," she answered as she stopped in front of what appeared to be a porthole like those on submarines. She then went into a lengthy explanation on how the machine worked, using words that I was sure I'd never find in any reference material. Something about 'sympathetic vibrations' and 'passive scanning' were about all I could catch.
"Wait a minute, Kotomi-chan," I tried to politely interrupt. I was starting to feel overwhelmed, and a glance at the twins showed pale faces. "We…can't follow all of this. What does this thing do? What does this window-looking thing have to do with it?"
"It…allows us to briefly look into other realities."
"The hell!" Kyou had regained her wits. "How can this thing do that?"
Kotomi smiled patiently. "Well, as I have already explained…"
"No! No, that's all right!" I quickly cut her off. To Kyou I whispered, "Are you out of your mind? Do you really want to get her started again?"
Kyou opened her mouth for what I assumed would be a snappy retort, but she simply closed her mouth and nodded apologetically.
Having hopefully averted a disaster I turned back to Kotomi, who patiently waited. "Sorry about that. So, this allows us to see other realities?"
She nodded solemnly. "To the best of our knowledge, yes. Some of the research team members have speculated that what we see could be 'ghosts' of other possibilities, of…choices not made."
"So like whether I went to the library that one day or stayed in class." I asked.
"That would be an example, yes. If you stayed in class, then there could have been a greater chance that…that…" Kotomi's happy expression faded.
"Kotomi-chan," Fujibayashi's worried voice said. "Are you okay?"
"It's okay, Kotomi-chan," I prompted. "Go on; If I stayed in class there could have been a better chance that…" my sentence faded as I realized the implications.
Kotomi and I might never have met that time.
My chest suddenly hurt.
I returned to reality and quickly looked over to Kotomi who, other than trembling all over, had become a statue. I quickly crossed the distance between us and took her in my arms, ignoring the knowing smiles from the staff. "It's okay, Kotomi-chan, it's okay. I chose the library, and I am so glad that I did."
It didn't stop her from crying softly for several minutes. It didn't stop some moisture from escaping my eyes, either.
"I am sorry," she said after settling down. "It was so sudden…I had never considered…"
"It's okay, Kotomi-chan," I tried to say soothingly. "It hit me pretty hard, too."
"Would…Would you like to take a look?" Kotomi offered.
I looked to the twins. "How about one of you?" I looked down at my fiancée. "I don't think we're ready to let go just yet."
"Mine," Kotomi agreed as she gently squeezed me.
Kyou was the first to bite. "Sure, I'll take a look."
As she approached the machine, Kotomi said, "One thing I have not told you; the viewer can only see alternatives to his or her own life." She pressed her face into me even more. "You will not see others unless they are interacting with you…the other 'you'."
"Have you looked?" Fujibayashi asked.
Kotomi nodded sadly. "My birthday could have been wonderful."
"Oh, you poor thing…" Fujibayashi made her way over and began rubbing Kotomi's back.
I noticed that Kyou was looking a little pale. "You going to be okay?" I asked.
"Huh?" She blinked. "Of course, idiot." She marched over to the 'porthole' and looked in. "Is this thing even turned on? I can't see a-"
"Onee-chan…?"
We watched, stunned, as a myriad of emotions crashed across Kyou's face. Tears, smiles, anger…she showed it all. It was as though the rest of us had disappeared.
She was finally able to pull away after several minutes. She looked exhausted.
"Onee-chan…?" her sister repeated.
Kyou's eyes had a haunted look as she approached us. First she looked at her sister. "Ryou…" she reached out with shaking hands and wrapped her in a hug. "Thank God you're all right…"
"Y-Yes…I'm okay," Fujibayashi said, trying to console her sister while giving us a puzzled look.
Kotomi and I looked at each other; Kyou never acted like this. "Is she going to be okay?" I asked.
"It will be a little while," she replied. "It will depend on how long it takes for her to assimilate the new information."
"Assimilate…" I mused. "Just what the hell did she see in there?"
Eventually Kyou released her sister and made her way over to Kotomi and me. She stared at us…me in particular, I thought…before running from the room in tears.
"I-I guess I'll go next," Fujibayashi offered.
Apparently she got much of the same kind of show that Kyou did, because when she was done she walked right up to us and stared into my face for a long time. Then she started breathing heavily before running from the room as well.
Suddenly I wasn't so interested in looking into the porthole anymore. But the others had looked, so…
I gently removed myself from Kotomi's embrace and walked over to the porthole. I sent a smile over my shoulder. "See you in a few," I said.
I looked into the window and saw…possibilities…